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LAPITHOS MUNICIPALITY Lapithos news

LAPITHOS MUNICIPALITY NEWSPAPER • ISSUE No. 56 • AUGUST 2020 KERYNIA REGION ANTI-OCCUPATION EVENTS 2020

erynia is the only region which is in its entirety under Nikos Anastasiades at the Makedonitissa Tomb for the events. KTurkish troops occupation for the past 46 years. Kerynia The event started with a memorial service by His Eminence displaced residents held anti-occupation events once Bishop of Kerynia, followed by welcome address and speech by again, calling for every refugee’s undisputable right to return as the Kerynia Mayor, Rita Elissaiou Komodiki and wreath laying a free man back to his homeland and reconnect with is historic in memory of the fallen who fought for freedom during Turkish and religious past. invasion. Events were co-hosted by the three municipalities of Kerynia The events in protest to our ongoing 46-year-long violent Region, i.e. Kerynia, Lapithos and , the 36 communities displacement were concluded with resolutions sent to the of the Region, the Lapithos and Karavas Refugee Associations missions of the five permanent members of the UN Security and the Kerynia Women’s Association. Almost all other Council, the United Naitons and political leadership. associations and organisations of the Region were either Due to COVID-19 pandemic this year round the resolutions participated or represented. were emailed rather than presented in person. The Holy Bishopry of Kerynia read the service in memory of the To the event presented the Minister of Department of the victims who fell defending our homeland during the brutal Interior, Representative of Political Parties, Members of Turkish invasion in 1974 and of the refugee members of our Parliament, Representative of Local Authorities, the Armed communities who died far from their homeland. Forces, the Police and other dignitaries. In his message The The memorial service was held on Monday 19 July 2020 at the President of the Republic reiterated that a solution that would not fully guarantee human rights for the Kerynia population, Apostle Varnavas Church in Kokkinotrimithia by His Eminence would never be accepted. Moreover, he accused as a Bishop of Kerynia, Chrysostomos. A special prayer was read for source of instability and anomaly in the East Med region, our loved ones who are still missing. fuelling the destabilisation of peaceful co-existence of people In a symbolic move the anti-occupation event was held on and keeping up a belligerent climate by threatening anyone and Wednesday 22 July 2020 at 19:00, the exact date and time everyone. President Anastasiades once again wondered how that Kerynia fell to the Turkish invaders. A great number of could Cyprus be reunited and vindicated with a viable and Kerynians joined the Minister of Department of the Interior Mr. working settlement while facing such an arrogant, intransigent, Nicos Nouri represented the President of the Cyprus Republic irrational and provocative approach by Turkey on a daily basis.

ANNUAL DINNER AND LEMON DANCE,

Lapithos & Karavas Association UK regrets to announce that its annual dinner and ball will most probably be cancelled this year round due to COVID-19 restrictions that hinder its organisation. 56 LAPITHOS-english-S_FINAL:Layout 1 7/31/20 1:21 PM Page 2

Lapithos news

THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION - 1924, WEMBLEY LONDON Cyprus and Lapithos’ participation

he world-famous British Empire Exhibition in Wembley was mesmerized by his exquisite technique and artwork. Unfortunately officially opened almost a century ago, in 1924. The the actual prize was lost in the late 1970s and its current owner T remains unknown, however, it had been photographed and it spectacular Exhibition was open to the public for five months bringing together multinational and multicultural exhibitors as remains as an authentic evidence. well as visitors who had the opportunity to share customs and Closing this short trip down the memory lane, we have to note a traditions from hundreds of different countries. rather disturbing fact. While national pavilions had been designed in the architectural styles of the countries they represented, Cyprus Although it would be difficult to detail this huge and impressive small pavilion was a mosque-like structure with a sign in Greek and Exhibition, it is worth mentioning that for months after its closure, – this was rather strange for the time of the the grounds were very popular with the Wembley residents and exhibition but not too difficult to understand today. visitors as a recreation centre. Back then Wembley was an hour’s drive or train ride away from downtown London; the huge It appears that British colonialists’ intentions had been exhibition grounds were next to the current Wembley Arena. discriminatory since then hence the 82% of the Greek Orthodox element of the island population was fully disregarded while the It was indeed an impressive project; the visitor had the opportunity then muslim element and the Turkification of Cyprus was strongly to walk through the exhibition pavilions and to experience the promoted. Even today, a century later and in the light of the amazing progress of the Empire and the unsurpassed British developments since then, we honestly wonder how many of us greatness of that era. have understood the true British policy towards us and their key The first imposing pavilion was His Majesty’s Government’s one role against us by their daily promoting their insidious diplomacy. hosted by The King and Queen, with a number of Royal Household items and art on display along with collections put together by Departments for Public Works, Agriculture, Education, Health and The Admiralty. Famously, six seated lions granite sculptures appeared outside the Government Pavilion, probably from Far East colonies. The Heroes Pavilion, a tribute to the Empire’s Armed Forces that had participated in the First World War, was particularly moving. It was a great display of pictures of battles, busts of significant officers and endless lists of the fallen, captured and missing men from Great Britain as well as the colonies. Cyprus’ 3,000 volunteers were included. It was quite an impressive exhibition with one surprise after the other for visitors. Some of the displays were almost fantasy-like as visitors were presented with ground-breaking discoveries and cutting-edge technology that were about to dramatically change the world’s progress course. Original vehicles, airplane and various types of machinery, industry technology, a huge number of agricultural and industrial products, raw material such as silk, cotton, wool in such quantities that overwhelmed the audience. Visitors also enjoyed a great number of other attractions such as the 30m high golden-plated pillar, with gold and diamonds from the Transvaal mines in South Africa; and the biggest whole cheese weighing 3,800 lbs on display in Australia’s pavilion. Amongst the big and impressive pavilions the modest Cyprus pavilion attracted visitors with local food and drink products, wine, commandaria, olives and olive oil, cereal, fruits and vegetables, halva and Cyprus delights. Visitors also had a chance to appreciate exquisite needle work, pottery and knife-making. Lefkara needlework and of course Lapithos Lace were particularly well- received while Lapithos pottery and knives were extremely popular. Although there are strong indications about the success of needlework and knives at the Exhibtion, unfortunately this success has not been documented so far. On the contrary, the success of Lapithos pottery is unequivocal. The centenarian Lapithos potter, Dimitris Tsimouris, got first prize for his work, as judges were Cyprus Pavilion.